During pregnancy, you must be very careful with the medicines used to alleviate symptoms of flu, cold or sore throat, for example, as not all of them are indicated as they can reach the baby through the placenta or umbilical cord, harming its development or causing damage to the developing baby. Therefore, during pregnancy it is advised not to take any cold or flu medicine without medical advice.
However, there are some home remedy options such as mint tea, lemon tea, or a mixture of honey and orange, which can help alleviate cold or flu symptoms, and if your throat is irritated, you can try making gargle with warm water and salt. See other home remedies for flu, colds and sore throats during pregnancy.
In addition, pregnant women should eat a healthy diet, eating fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the day and drinking 1.5 to 2 liters of water per day, for a good recovery.
Medicine for fever or pain
During a cold or flu, symptoms such as headache, sore throat, body aches or fever are very common, and in these cases the pregnant woman can take paracetamol, which is considered the medicine with the least risk for the baby, however it should be taken in the lowest possible dose and for the shortest period of time.
The dose recommended by the obstetrician is generally 1 tablet of 500 mg every 8 hours, with a maximum daily dose of 4000 mg, and it is always important to take paracetamol with guidance and advice from your doctor.
Medicine for runny nose or stuffy nose
In these cases, the pregnant woman can use an isotonic seawater saline solution, such as Nasoclean, or 0.9% saline solution, for example, applying it to the nostrils throughout the day.
Furthermore, pregnant women can also use an air humidifier, as it increases the humidity in the air, making breathing easier and helping the nose to unclog. Pregnant women can also do saline inhalations, using an inhaler, to help moisten the airways and thus unclog the nose.
How to strengthen the immune system
A good way to strengthen the immune system is to make guava, passion fruit and coconut milk juice, because it is rich in vitamin C and minerals, which have antioxidant action, helping to strengthen the body and fight flu and colds. Furthermore, coconut milk is rich in lauric acid, which the body converts into antiviral and antibacterial substances, such as monolaurin, helping to fight colds.
Ingredients
- ½ guava;
- ½ passion fruit with pulp and seeds;
- 150 mL of homemade coconut milk.
Preparation mode
Add the guava and passion fruit pulp to the blender and blend. Add the coconut milk little by little until it reaches a creamy consistency. Drink afterwards.
Are flu medications recommended for pregnant women?
It is not recommended to take flu medications during pregnancy without medical advice.
In general, flu medicines contain several active ingredients to treat cold and flu symptoms at the same time, and may contain paracetamol and loratadine or phenylephrine, for example, among other components. Paracetamol is relatively safe in pregnancy, but other components are not. Therefore, it is important to consult your obstetrician before taking any medication.
Bibliography
- NM HEALTH. Which Cold & Flu Medication Is Safe to Take During Pregnancy?. Disponível em: <https://unmhealth.org/stories/2022/02/cold-flu-medicine-safe-during-pregnancy.html>. Acesso em 18 jul 2023
- NHS – NATION HEALTH SYSTEM. Paracetamol for adults. Available at: <https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/paracetamol-for-adults/>. Accessed on 08 Jul 2021
